Gear & Accessories

We remain inspired by Rob Lowe, the film and TV icon who has somehow found time to become a serious player in men’s skincare and fragrance while working on four TV shows: Moonbeam City, the Lion Guard, You, Me & the Apocalypse and The Grinder (so apropos).

With Rob’s self-care brand Profile now offering its debut scent, “Amber Wood 18,” exclusively at Nordstrom, we got on the phone and chatted about the details of the fragrance, regrettable colognes from the 1970s and what it means to be truly successful in life.

Because Rob is the man of the people, you can conduct your own Q&A as well: in person March 18 at 5 pm in our Seattle flagship, or pose your question right now on Twitter by tweeting to @Nordstrom with #nordstromxroblowe, where you might get a video response.

In which FKA Twigs–experimental musician and master mixer of choreography with freestyle dance–takes her pants off, performing with the very smoooooth contortionist Kaner Flex. Can we get a bravo for this current Calvin Klein campaign? Advertising as art. We love it.

Usually when you shop, you choose whatever quantity you want of a particular item. Not so with Foothills CA–the new Californian brand where there is only one of each thing.

That’s because Foothills, run by former skater Jonnie Henderson with J.P. Plunier, specializes in vintage. Particularly Native American, military and Western jewelry and gear–stuff which looks best mixed into modern outfits.

We spoke with Henderson and Plunier about their twisting paths in the vintage game, the unique cultural feedback loops connecting North American folk art with streetwear/style in Japan and Great Britain, and rejecting notions of vintage as old-timey dress-up.

Depending on where you hang your (rain)hat, winters have a well-earned reputation for grey, wet weather. While there are crisp, clear blue days on occasion—we promise—our style usually has to fight the rain while our moods battle the gloom. But you get used to it and you make it work.

Coffee, sunboxes, alcohol, vitamin D and raincoats help.

A good water-resistant jacket seems to protect your clothes and your soul when the climate is particularly dreary. New, design-minded companies like Stockholm-based Stutterheim are creating contemporary coats that not only stop the wind and rain from dampening clothes, but, with handmade craftsmanship and clean silhouettes, also look good even when the weather is rearing its ugly head. And that, in turn, makes us kind of happy.

Here’s what you need to know about the company that has as its motto “Swedish Melancholy at Its Driest.”

The predominant male attitude on grooming and skincare is that they are optional. At least that’s what we hear from president of Kiehl’s and noted beard-wearer Chris Salgardo.

But imagine if Rob Lowe thought that way. There would be no Rob Lowe.

So in the interest of correcting this gross misunderstanding, Salgardo wrote Manmade, a book with grooming and skincare tips men can and should use right now–and which will keep them looking younger, longer. Perhaps you know a man who could use this in his life?

Salgardo told us all about the book on the phone. The conversation is below.

And if you happen to be in/near Seattle on December 11, meet up with Salgardo in our flagship store to talk about his book and knock back a cold one. The event is called, tantalizingly, Beards and Brew.

With the winter freeze approaching, conditions are just right for the new Eddie Bauer by Ilaria Urbinati collection. A leading celebrity stylist (she’s dressed Bradley Cooper and Ben Affleck, so yeah), Urbinati created looks for the urban adventurer by updating classic Eddie Bauer pieces. These cool, heritage-rich styles will prepare you for the season in just a few lean layers (no marshmallow puffers here).

We spoke with Urbinati about working with the American outfitter and what essentials a man needs.

How did this collaboration come about?

I’d done suiting before, and this time I wanted to do a men’s collection with an all-American active brand. I loved the idea of creating sportswear that fits like a tailored suit—with slimmer cuts, higher armholes, etc. I wanted to work with a brand that has history and heritage that I could help modernize and introduce to a new audience. I made a wish list and Eddie Bauer was at the top. Somehow I talked them into it, and a few weeks later I was in Seattle working on the collection.

Are you ready to take a lucky dog to a whole new style level? Consider pet accessories by legendary outdoor brands Filson and Barbour.

The receiving dog will end up looking ready to open a coffee shop/work as a park ranger–or at least stunt on the other dogs at the park while wearing waxed cotton, quilted felt and durable leather.

Fun story about the dog models in this blog post: When we learned we would be carrying all this excellent dog gear, we called Seattle Humane and asked if they had any camera hams to help show it off. They brought five “highly adoptable” dogs to our Studio N for a photo shoot. Three were adopted on the spot by Nordstrom employees. This blogger rescued Luna, below.

The remaining two dogs found new, loving homes by the end of the week. Highly adoptable, indeed.